In less poetic words, ideally America isn't just a VIP club; it welcomes distressed immigrants, believing they, too, can make good Americans.

But a study released this week says San Joaquin County is doing a wretched job helping its huddled masses.

The Center on Immigration Integration released its first "California Immigrant Integration Scorecard." The scorecard, which measures "immigrant integration and progress" in 10 California regions, ranked San Joaquin 9th.

I know, Stocktonians hearing the word "study" or "ranking" automatically go into a defensive crouch. But this groundbreaking study should not be dismissed.

Why? Well, approximately 156,000 immigrants live in this county. That's two whole Tracys of immigrants. Obviously they can be a great boost to this region, or a great drag.

Also, the study suggests the economy is not the only thing holding immigrants back from making more money and becoming naturalized American citizens.

Translation: the region historically has high immigration, but conservative residents dislike immigrants. If ever a region harbored a self-defeating attitude, that is it.

On the scorecard San Joaquin tanked in the "Warmth of Welcome" category.

"Warmth of Welcome takes seriously the understanding that immigrants contribute to the strength of their region - and so measures if the region views them favorably and worth the investment," the study explained.

Apparently we lack warmth.

"The region ranks low in its capacity to serve its immigrant population; there are approximately five immigrant-serving organizations for the region's 86,000 non-citizen immigrants, which partially explains the weak infrastructure for naturalization. The region also needs more English language courses."

They're saying we haven't made a very good melting pot. And this holds back immigrants - holds them back from becoming the Americans we want them to be.

Unsaid - because it is outside the survey's purview - is that holding back immigrants holds the county back, too.

There's a paradoxical disconnect between the way Stocktonians treat immigrants on a personal level and the way city/county institutions underserve immigrants' needs.

On a personal level, Stocktonians grow up with diversity from the sandbox. Meeting the "other" and realizing they are just people is part of the Stockton experience. We're richer for it.

On the other hand, many are OK with institutional discrimination. It's as if somehow immigrants who merit personal respect do not deserve the full benefits of citizenship.

It is not clear this is solely a conservative failing. And the head of the scorecard project, Rhonda Ortiz, could not provide any data to prove it is.

But I can produce Prop. 187, the 1994 ballot initiative to deny illegal aliens from using California health care, public education, and other social services: San Joaquin County voted it up by a ratio of 2-to-1. A lot more citizens than just the conservatives voted for it.

"Immigrants are living in our communities," Ortiz said. "Whether there's an improved immigration system (or not) ... the way we welcome them will determine how well our region does."

Stockton took a shot at capital improvement in the 2000s, pouring millions into brick-and-mortar projects in hopes they would transform the city.

Look how well that worked out.

So maybe the capital that needs investment is Stockton's human capital.

Maybe for starters we ought to put a second Statue of Liberty atop the Grapevine, right where it drops into the Valley. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

And natives should realize their fortunes are bound to immigrants, whatever their politics, and that it is wise policy to educate them, help them and steer them toward citizenship.

And this is not special treatment, because all Stockton's human capital should be developed in exactly this way. Not only immigrants; also natives of the poor/wretched/huddled sort.

So kids aren't out killing people for their gang affiliation or their gold chains, but instead have the education and skills to attract high-paying jobs - and the wherewithal to lead this city better than the people who bankrupted it.